Blood sample collection apparatus



Oct. 8, 1963 c. H. BARR, sR., EI'AL 3,106,206

BLOOD SAMPLE COLLECTION APPARATUS Filed Aug. 25, 1959 (001972.411/0 A. 54P1P, 3e COUPTlA/VD BAPP, we e/OAA/ 14 5,49

INVENTORS.

BY "f w' United States Patent 3,106,206 BLOUD SAMPLE COLLECTIGN APPARATUS Courtiand H. Barr, Sin, Courtland H. Barr, In, and John W. Barr, all of Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Qourtland Laboratories, Los Angeles, (Zalif., a corporation of California Filed Aug. 25, I959, Ser. No. 835,835 3 Claims. (Cl. 12S276) This invention relates to the collection of blood and has particular reference to improved apparatus used in drawing or otherwise collecting blood from veins.

Conventional practices in the collection of blood samples from live subjects include the use of an evacuated tube or vial closed at one end by a stopper of rubber or other resilient material adapted to be pierced by a cannula or hollow needle which is either directly or indirectly in communication with a vein of the patient. The stopper is generally formed with an inner axial recess extending partially from the lower end thereof and in many cases a similar recess extends downwardly from the top of the stopper. In either event, a diaphragm is thus formed in the stopper, the primary purpose of the diaphragm being to present a reduced-thickness portion permitting ready insertion of the needle therethrough. Such stoppers are disadvantageous in that the diaphragm is, of necessity, so thin relative to the needle point that accidental piercing of the diaphragm by the needle, which is maintained in close proximity thereto in the usual type of collection assembly, is diflicult to avoid. Such stoppers are also disadvantageous from the standpoint that a portion of the blood in the vial tends to collect in the inner recess and upon opening of the vial by removal of the stopper this blood often spatters the working area with droplets, generally spotting the clothes of the user or other surrounding surfaces. Another disadvantage of stoppers which include the top recess is that dust, dirt and other foreign particles settle therein and such foreign particles are difficult, if, not impossible to remove, resulting in a condition of existing or potential contamination.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a blood sample collection apparatus which is not subject to these and other disadvantages of the apparatus of the prior art.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel blood sample collection apparatus and more particularly a novel stopper therefor, the stopper being rovided with a reduced thickness area or diaphragm, but having a substantially smooth or imperforate bottom surface, the stopper further being provided with an upper recess of novel form, the recess being defined by walls of noncylindrical shape which are designed to grip the needle to prevent accidental disassembly or other movement thereof with respect to the stopper and the walls further being designed to prevent or minimize the entry of foreign matter into bottom portions of the recess.

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Inthe drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but illustrating the needle in position after piercing the stopper diaphragm.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the stopper, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

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Referring now to the drawings, the apparatus of the present invention includes a tube or vial It preferably of glass, having a closed bottom end 11, the top of the open end 12 being closed by a stopper 14.

The stopper 14 is made of rubber or rubber-like material of suitable composition and has a flange head portion 15 overlying the end of the vial ltl. Integral with he head portion is a body portion 16 which extends into the open end of the vial, the diameter of the body portion being somewhat larger than the inside diameter of the vial so that the body portion is under compression when inserted into the assembled position shown. The lower end of the body portion is bevelled as at 20 to facilitate assembly of the stopper and the vial.

As shown in the drawings, the circular bottom surface 21 of the stopper ,body portion is substantially planar and is imperforate, having no recess therein as is the case with conventional stoppers utilized in such apparatus. The head portion of the stopper is provided with a central recess 23 extending downwardly from the top thereof a substantial distance into the body portion, a diaphragm 24 being thus defined. The Walls forming the recess are generally cylindrical but are provided with a plurality of spaced raised portions 30. Preferably, these portions extend inwardly to terminate just short of the center line of the stopper, at least three such portions being provided, one being spaced intermediate and diametrically opposed to the other two.

The vial and stopper assembly described above is especially adapted to be used in conjunction with a needle and holder assembly of the type disclosed in our copending application Serial No. 757,308, filed August 26, 1958. Such assembly includes a cannula 35 having sharpened, bevelled ends 36 and 37. The cannula extends centrally through and is secured to a hub member 38. 7

Means are provided for operably connecting the cannula to the vial and as shown in the drawings these means include a cannula holder 45. The holder is preferably molded of plastic and includes a central body portion 46 having lateral extension portions 46a and a central bore 47 into which the hub member 38 is driven. Finger grip means are also provided on the holder and as shown, these means include a pair of parallel leg portions Sit and 51, one on either side of the vial and provided at the ends thereof with an interconnection comprising a disk-like finger grip member 52. having a central opening therein for the vial.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the lower portion of the cannula is inserted into the recess 23, the sharpened end 36 thereof being positioned immediately above the bottom 55 of the recess. In this position the raised portions 3% frictionally grip the cannula and prevent accidental movement thereof with respect to the stopper and its diaphragm, yet the gripping action is easily overcome by the positive longitudinal forces exerted by the operator in use of the device. The gripping action of the raised portions is preferably augmented by the frictional contact between the stopper head portion 15 which frictionally engages the arcuate inner portions of the leg portions 50 and 51.

The assembly described is ready for immediate use merely by removal of the customary cannula cover 6b which is frictionally connected to the holder body portion 46. The end 37 of the cannula is then inserted into the vein of the patient and thereupon the finger grip member 52 is grasped with two fingers and the thumb is held over the end of the vial, thus the assembly may be operated in the manner of a syringe by pushing the thumb toward the fingers, whereupon the cannula end 36 pierces through the diaphragm to establish communication with the evacuated interior of the vial, as shown in FIGURE 3, (the amazon diiierential in pressure causing a blood sample to be drawn into the vial through the cannula.

Having fully described our invention, it is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited to the details set forth, but our invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A stopper for a vial, :said stopper being of resilient material, said stopper having a head portion, a body portion of reduced thickness integral with said head portion, walls forming a central recess extending downwardly from the head portion and into the body portion, said recess terminating short of the end of said body portion to form a relatively thin diaphragm, and said walls having a plurality of spaced raised portions tending inwardly into said recess.

2. A stopper for a vial, said stopper being of resilient material, said stopper having a head portion, a body portion of reduced thickness integral with said head portion, walls forming a central recess extending downwardly from the head portion and into the body portion, said recess terminating short of the end of said body portion to form a relatively thin diaphragm, and said walls having a plurality of spaced raised portions extending inwardly into said recess, one of said raised portions being dia-' metrically opposed to and intermediate a pair :of said raised portions.

3. A stopper for a vial, said stopper being of resilient material, said stopper having :a head portion, a body portion of reduced thickness integral with said head portion, wialls forming a central recess extending downwardly from the head portion and into the body portion, said recess terminating short of the end of said body portion to form a relatively thin diaphragm, and said Walls having a plurality of spaced raised portions extending inwardly into said recess, said raised portions terminating immediately adjacent the center line of. said stopper.

4. A stopper for a vial, said stopper being of resilient material, said stopper having a head portion, a body portion of reduced thickness integral with said head portion, walls forming a central recess extending downwardly from the head port-ion and into the body portion, said recess terminating short of the end of said body portion to form a relatively thin diaphragm, and said walls having a plurality of spaced raised pontions extending inwardly into said recess, said raised portions terminating immediately adjacent the center line of said stopper, one of said raised portions being diametrically opposed to and intermediate a pair of said raised portions.

5. The combination of an evacuated vial and a stopper in said vial, said stopper being of resilient material, said stopper having a head portion, a body portion of reduced thickness integral with said head portion, walls forming a central recess extending downwardly from the head portion and into the body portion, said recess terminating short of the end of said body portion to form a relatively the end of said body portion to form a relatively thin diaphragm, and said Walls having a plurality of spaced raised portions extending inwardly into said recess, and a cannula, said cannula having a portion extending into said recess and gripped by said raised portions.

7. A blood collection assembly comprising the combination of a vial closed at one end with a stopper, said stopper being of resilient material, said stopper having a head portion, a body portion of reduced thickness integral with said head portion, walls forming a central recess extending downwardly from the head port-ion and into the body portion, said recess terminating short of the end of said body portion to form a relatively thin diaphragm, and said walls having a plurality of spaced raised portions extending inwardly into said recess, a cannula, said cannula having a portion extending into said recess and gripped by said raised portions, and a cannula holder, said holder having portions frictionally engaging the stopper head portion.

8. A blood collection assembly comprising the cornbination of a vial closed at one end with a stop-per, said stopper being of resilient material, said stopper having a head portion, a body portion of reduced thickness integral with said head portion, walls forming a central recess extending downwardly from the head portion and into the body portion, said recess terminating short of the end of said body portion to form a relatively thin diaphragm, and said walls having a plurality of spaced raised portions extending inwardly into said recess, one of said raised portions being diametrically opposed to and intermediate a pair of said raised portions, and a cannula, said cannula having'ia portion extending into said recess and gripped by said raised portions.

References (fitted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,443,079 Lefebvre et al Jan. 23, 1923 2,469,641 Kleiner Feb. 1, 1949 2,473,734 Smith June 21, 1949 2,847,995 Adams Aug. 19, 1958 2,922,4l9 Bednarz Ian. 26, l969 FOREIGN PATENTS 53,145 France Sept. 21, 1953 (1st Addition to Patent 936,751) 

1. A STOPPER FOR A VIAL, SAID STOPPER BEING RESILIENT MATERIAL, SAID STOPPER HAVING A HEAD PORTION, A BODY PORTION OF REDUCED THICKNESS INTEGRAL WITH SAID HEAD PORTION, WALLS FORMING A CENTRAL RECESS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE HEAD PORTION AND INTO THE BODY PORTION, SAID RECESS TERMINATING SHORT OF THE END OF SAID BODY PORTION TO FORM A RELATIVELY THIN DIAPHRAGM, AND SAID WALLS HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED RAISED PORTIONS EXTENDING INWARDLY INTO SAID RECESS. 